Novartis Bangladesh celebrates annual Community Partnership Day 2019

Novartis Bangladesh celebrates annual Community Partnership Day 2019

• Community Partnership Day symbolizes the company’s commitment to make a difference in the communities where associates live and work
• Novartis associates in Bangladesh joined their hands to support the autistic people through different activities and projects.
• About 14,000 Novartis associates worldwide has taken part in the company’s 23rd Annual Community Partnership Day

Dhaka, May 05, 2019 – Today, in celebration of the company’s 23rd Annual Community Partnership Day, Novartis associates in Bangladesh joined their hands to support the autistic children through participating in different activities and projects.
This year Novartis partnered PFDA- Vocational Training Institute, a voluntary organization, who works to educate, empower as well as provide employment for the differently abled people. Novartis associates engaged in volunteer programs covering a range of activities including playing games, telling stories and sharing food with them. Under ‘happiness distribution’ initiative, the employees raised fund through auction of paintings drawn by the children. They also promised to sponsor a number of children to support their training and education. The autistic children performed a beautiful cultural program at the end of the session. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Paolo Agbotounou, Country Head of Sandoz, Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited said, "Returning more to the society is part of Novartis priorities and Community Partnership Day provides Novartis associates an unique opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the society. Extending support to the special children will help them get into the mainstream workforce and ensure a brighter life.” “Autistic children are differently abled and as a good corporate citizen, we need to support them from both individual and corporate responsibility and make our effort sustainable”, said Mr. Ehab Farouk, Head of Novatis Tongi Plant. On behalf of Dr. Riad Mamun Prodhani, Managing Director and Country President, Mr. Fahmid Wasek Ali said, “Autistic people have the same rights as other people to take their proper place in society. They need to be brought into the mainstream of economy; otherwise, the capacity of a good number of workforce will be unutilized.”
In 2019, more than 13,789 Novartis associates from six continents and 56 countries volunteered more than 110, 312 hours of combined community service.

About Novartis (Bangladesh) Ltd.
Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited operates as a subsidiary of Novartis AG, a global healthcare company based in Switzerland that provides solutions to address the evolving needs of patients worldwide. Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited is a joint venture between Novartis AG (60%) and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (40%) of Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh. The company provides healthcare solutions specializing in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of a range of healthcare products led by pharmaceuticals. Novartis operates businesses with global scale and strong customer ties, focusing on innovative patented medicines and generic medicines. The Company exports its products to more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.